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Episode 19, Friday 20 June , 2008

Ask the Experts - Episode 19

Graeme Ewin - Freemason Grandmaster

Why do Freemasons have a secret handshake? … asks Teresa, SA

Freemasonry dates back to the middle ages when masons were building cathedrals and palaces throughout Europe and Great Britain. They were operative masons; they had secret handshakes and words that gave them acknowledgement to another palace that they were able and qualified to do a certain work in the building. As they improved their skills they got a further handshake and a word and this enabled them to move from cathedral to cathedral. They were illiterate and unable to write, so they couldn’t sign their names and they carried these words and handshakes. This changed over the years as the building stopped from operative masons, to as we are known today, to be free and accepted or symbolic masons. The handshakes and words continue to this day.

Have there been any famous Freemasons? … asks Bob, NSW

Freemasons can come from the highest or lowest positions in society. Within a Freemasons’ lodge, all men are considered equal, meeting on the level and parting on the square. Among the more famous of Freemasons is His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent, who is the current Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. George VI, the father of the current monarch was a Freemason as were Edward VIII, Edward the VI and George the IV. There have been fifteen Presidents of America that were Freemasons including, George Washington. Australia has had eight Prime Ministers who were Freemasons, including the founding father of the Commonwealth Sir Edmond Barton, the first Prime Minster, also Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, whose apron is carried around the Grand Lodge at the celebration of ANZAC Day and the most famous is Sir Donald Bradman.

What does the Freemason symbol represent? … asks Mark, NSW

In ancient history, temples, cathedrals and palaces were naturally built on the basis of an architectural plan. The square and the compass were the chief instruments used in the formation of an architectural plan. In Freemasonry, the compasses are given to the Grand Master as an emblem of his dignity, he being the head and ruler of the craft.